Obama’s Introduction to Media Payback
David Brooks’ New York Times column with its cutesy concept of “Obama Comedown Syndrome” is a sure sign that the familiar process has begun: media payback, wherein the over-hypers of MSM start a new cycle of anti-gush to meet their quotas of knowingness.
In filling his space yesterday, Brooks describes Obama enthusiasts as victims of “intense surges of hope-amine, the brain chemical that fuels euphoric sensations of historic change and personal salvation” and goes on to criticize the candidate as “the most predictable liberal vote in the Senate” with a tendency to vacillate on issues.
Yet, in October 2006, Brooks was one of the first commentators in either party to enthuse over Obama.
In a column titled “Run Barack Run,” he encouraged him to do just that, noting that “a president who brings a deliberative style to the White House will multiply his knowledge, not divide it.”
But Brooks is only doing what comes naturally to columnists, trying to stay ahead of the public opinion curve to preserve his punditry credentials.
When he declared his candidacy last spring, John McCain complained of rough media treatment, failing to understand it as the predictable backlash to all the “Straight Talk” hype about his previous campaign.
In Obama’s case, there may be some legitimate “buyer’s remorse” out there as voters begin to see him as a possible president rather than a symbol of hope, but in the coming weeks, the media can be trusted to amplify those doubts ad nauseam.
Welcome to the big ring, Senator.
Cross-posted from my blog.
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6 Responses to “Obama’s Introduction to Media Payback”
I do think that some “buyer's remorse” is happening relative to Obama. But I don't think that explains what happened in New Hampshire as the piece you've linked here suggested. I believe that NH was going for Obama, but Hillary Clinton's likely-misinterpreted tears brought out a sympathy vote for her, especially after conservative talk radio and John Edwards said that this show of emotion demonstrated that she was unfit for the presidency. Had it not been for that incident, Obama would have sewn the nomination up a long time ago.
Mark Daniels
The sine wave of political coverage is inevitable. Barack should be happy it's coming now as there's little chance it will derail his nomination, and there's plenty of time for the wave to turn back upwards again.
Brooks is one of the worst political commenters out there- along w Dick Morris. He's a squooshy middle of the roader with no clear ideas nor ideals. At least a Bill Buckley can be admire for his intellect, even if yuo disagree with him. But Brooks? He's a bobo's hoho. Irrelevant.
Brooks is one of the worst political commenters out there- along w Dick Morris. He's a squooshy middle of the roader with no clear ideas nor ideals. At least a Bill Buckley can be admire for his intellect, even if yuo disagree with him. But Brooks? He's a bobo's hoho. Irrelevant.
The media will, predictably, attack McCain once the nominations are official, and we will hear all kinds of nonsense about McCain the “conservative Republican,” the “arch-conservative,” the “warmongering far rightist,” “extremist,” etc, ad nauseum (the same fictitious hype we see all too often everywhere directed at those who aren't left enough for someone's acceptance).
The media will, predictably, attack McCain once the nominations are official, and we will hear all kinds of nonsense about McCain the “conservative Republican,” the “arch-conservative,” the “warmongering far rightist,” “extremist,” etc, ad nauseum (the same fictitious hype we see all too often everywhere directed at those who aren't left enough for someone's acceptance).